This chapter gets kind of dark around the ending of it.
Trigger Warnings: Suicidal thoughts and implied almost attempted suicide (Grim doesn't attempt it but it's implied she had the intention to do so)

The Padawan mediated in the gardens.

Surrounded by life she found her peace. A calm settled into her as she connected with the Force. So much darkness had swirled around her, trying to drag her into its grasp.

Grim allowed herself to connect with the light and acknowledged her fear.

She couldn't allow it to guide her actions further. To cause her to stumble back instead of ahead.

Her fear had already prevented her from telling the Council the full truth. She wanted to. She had intended to, but instead fear seized her.

Grim reached out into the Force and felt the light that surrounded her. The warmth of her family.

Yes, she belonged here.

Those doubts had long since been erased.

The Jedi Temple was her home and the Jedi Order was her family.

Although she knew of what was to become of them in the future she did not focus on that fear, centering on the present. Allowing herself to feel every member of her vast family, to feel their compassion and as she did so a smile crept upon her lips.

This was her home. This was her family.

And tomorrow they will die. The darkness whispered in her ear. The fear crept back into her heart.

She shook her head and focused on the light.

She would not be swayed by her fear, she would hold onto hope, for that was much stronger. She pushed the shadows away and felt the bright gentle lights of the Jedi.

She opened her eyes and saw Obi-Wan watching her from afar, having not wanted to interrupt her peaceful state. "Master," she said in surprise. "How long have you been waiting?"

Obi-Wan smiled at her. "Don't worry, I saw that you were meditating. Would you mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," Grim replied.

He walked over and sat in front of her. "I wanted to speak with you as well."

"Hm? About what?"

"The future. You mentioned that what is happening now marks the ending of what you have been trying to prevent. You told the Council what that is, but you won't allow us to help you."

"Are you asking me to talk about it?" She asked. "To open up about my fears? I know I should, but at this point in time, I am afraid nothing more can be done."

Obi-Wan sighed ever slightly.

She was always stubborn, and he knew that would never go away. "I am asking one more time to give us - or at least just me - a chance to help you. What you're trying to prevent is not something that you should do alone."

Grim pursed her lips together. Considering her master's words. As always he was right.

Though as always her fear won against her logic. "You're right Master, but as I said nothing more can be done."

There was a long silence between them as Obi-Wan saw that his Padawan was too stubborn to let him in.

Eventually he sighed and asked, "do you still wish to meditate with me?"

"I don't mind."

The Master and Padawan sank into the Force.

Obi-Wan saw Grim's unique presence in a clear light.

She had always seemed to drift between two places. Lost in a space between two separate universes.

Now it seemed she was no longer lost in that way, although he felt another conflict inside as a storm cloud tried to wrap itself around her.

Still there was the light within her that resisted the darkness.

He had known of Grim's fear for a long time. Obi-Wan tried to help her through it, but now it was stronger than ever before. It wrapped around her heart, and he saw a hint of grief within her.

A grief he could not quite understand, although he knew it had to do with the same fear inside.

Obi-Wan wanted to help her, but understood it was her own choice to not let him. He reached further into the force, beyond his young Padawan.

Until he felt her let him in.

Her mind was a whirlwind of fear and grief. Though between the storm a light showed through.

Obi-Wan knew what Grim was saying without her ever having to say it.

"Please, help me hold on."

Obi-Wan let her know that he understood.

"Feel the light around us," he voiced. "Don't focus on the future, be in the moment."

"The moment is dark too if you see the full image," she whispered.

He frowned. She was right, every moment in this war was dark if you looked beyond.

Grim had a way of seeing so much of the picture that every moment led her to the future.

She seemed to always be trapped in time. A grief for the past she had lost and a fear for the future that she knew, so that even when she was in the moment she was in a different time.

"Be here, not elsewhere," he told her.

Although she did not reply he could feel a shift within her as she felt for the current moment and the light that surrounded them now.

The storm around her heart seemed to fade as hope replaced fear.

Obi-Wan smiled and he too reached to feel the light that surrounded them now in this moment.

Only Grim was aware just how precious this moment may be.

She had to know.

She had to know if Sidious was right.

If she had really lost.

After what had happened with Dooku, how she had watched with her own eyes as Anakin stepped into the darkness - she had to know if it was over.

This would confirm it.

Grim had seen the film plenty of times to know the next scene. In fact she had even sneaked in early to watch.

Anakin's reaction would give away everything.

Grim crouched behind some seats- using the darkness of the theater as cover. She concealed herself and watched Palpatine closely until she heard Anakin coming over.

She moved slightly to avoid being seen as he walked over to the Chancellor.

"You wanted to see me?" Anakin asked him.

"Yes, Anakin, come closer. I have good news," Palpatine replied. As he moved closer, she watched.

This part she did not need to hear - it was not the part that would let her know if Anakin was gone. If she truly lost.

It was the story that Palpatine would tell that Grim had come to watch.

Palpatine spoke with Anakin - telling him where Grievous was hiding, before asking the others that were with him to leave and Anakin to take a seat beside him. Which they did.

Grim maneuvered herself in between the two seats.

"Anakin," said Palpatine. "You know I am not able to rely on the Jedi Council."

That's because you're a Sith , thought Grim, though she knew better than to say so aloud.

"If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."

"I'm not sure I understand," replied Anakin.

"You must sense what I have come to suspect. The Jedi want control of the Republic. They're planning to betray me."

The Jedi don't seek power, and they aren't planning on betraying you, they don't have the evidence that you're a Sith yet, Grim hissed in her mind. I won't listen to you tell lies about my family.

Except she did, because she had to know if it was too late.

"I don't understand."

"Anakin, search your feelings. You know, don't you?" he asked him.

"I know they don't trust you."

And they shouldn't as he's a Sith Lord.

"Or the senate, or the Republic, or democracy for that matter," Palpatine interjected.

Shut up Hideous.

"I have to admit, my trust in them has been shaken," said Anakin.

Skywalker no, shut up-

"Why? They asked you to do something, that made you feel dishonest, didn't they? They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?"

"I uh, I don't know what to say."

How about nothing?

"Remember back to your early teachings, all you gain power are afraid to lose it. Even the Jedi."

"The Jedi use their power for good."

"Good is a point of view, Anakin."

Well where I'm standing, plotting to murder an entire culture isn't good, and that's exactly what you're doing Palpabitch. The Jedi are wonderful and you're just the evilest man alive-

"The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way," Palpatine went on. "Including their quest for greater power."

The Jedi are nothing like the Sith, how dare you!

"The Sith rely on passion, they think inwards only about themselves," Anakin told him.

"And the Jedi don't?"

"The Jedi are selfless. They only care about others."

There was a pause - a silence just long enough for Grim to calm herself. She took a deep breath and recited the first line of the Jedi mantra in her head.

Palpatine's lies had angered her, but she had to have a clear mind if she wanted to truly know if she had lost.

Palpatine began again, and Grim switched all her attention onto Anakin.

His every reaction would tell if there was still a chance, like when he had agreed with her on the fact that his actions had been wrong and told the Chancellor such, - or if Sidious had won.

"Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?" He asked Anakin.

"No."

"I thought not, it's not a story the Jedi would tell you."

It's not a story any other Sith would tell you.

Sidious went on, "it's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create...life. He had such knowledge of the Dark Side that he could even prevent the ones he cared about from dying."

Anakin spoke and with his words, Grim felt herself lose hope.

"He could actually save people from death?"

"The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural."

"What happened to him?"

"He became so powerful the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power. Which eventually of course he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, and then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It's ironic, he could save others from death, but not himself."

Grim rolled her eyes. Of course he found it ironic, he was the apprentice in said story.

If it weren't for the severity of the situation Grim may have found Anakin's ignorance to the truth behind the tale amusing.

Though the slight amusement she did feel died with her hope - and her brother when Anakin asked, "is it possible to learn this power?"

Sidious replied, "not from a Jedi."

Her heart dropped.

It was over - Sidious had won.

She stood up to leave when she bumped her head noisily.

The Chancellor and Jedi turned around and spotted the young Padawan.

"Ah kriff," she muttered.

"Grim!" Anakin exclaimed angrily, "what are you doing here?"

"I-," Grim began to defend herself.

"I'm so sorry Chancellor, I need to speak with her."

He got out of his seat and began to escort her out of the room, Grim glared at the disguised Sith as in a low voice he said to her, "checkmate."

Her blood ran cold.

The color drained from her face.

Her eyes widened with fear.

She had lost and Sidious knew as well.

Anakin and Grim left the room and he pulled her to the side in a hallway. "How long were you spying on me and the Chancellor?" He demanded, his voice just low enough so nobody else could overhear them.

"I don't see why that matters," she shot at him. "Not like it matters - I only went to know, and now I do. I am speaking to a ghost, because the man I knew is dead - he has to be, if you are truly considering that story the chancellor fed you."

He looked at her perplexed. "It was just a story."

"A Sith legend, Skywalker," she snapped. "How many people do you know that know Sith legends?"

"Is there something you're trying to imply, Grim?" asked Anakin.

"Perhaps, and perhaps so was he, but you are too oblivious to what is going on to realize," she said.

Before he could say another word Grim marched off.

Checkmate. The Sith had won.

Grim now sat on the roof of the Temple, her legs hanging over the edge as she watched the night time sky. The stars seemed to glow with such light, and she held onto that light as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She had failed, she could see as clear as day. Sidious had won Anakin over, she had watched as it had happened.

The light that existed now would be the last that the galaxy knew. She reached for the light, grabbing for it as if it was the only thing that kept her on the roof.

Perhaps it was.

The fact that now in this moment there was light was the only reason she kept on the roof.

Tomorrow she would pay the price for her failures, although if she would survive she did not know.

What would happen if she did survive?

What role would she play in the galaxy?

Other than the one of a failed Padawan who could not save her family.

She heard footsteps and her head turned away from the stars.

Anakin had also come to the roof, though he had yet to notice Grim.

She felt her heart twist at the sight of him.

Tonight would be the final time she saw him in light, tomorrow he would fall.

Or had he fallen already?

She had seen what he did to Dooku when they had rescued the Chancellor - oh how she now wished she had killed Palpatine then when she had the chance, she could have gotten away with it too, it was a dangerous situation for everyone.

Anakin sat by her, still not seeing Grim, lost in his own thoughts about the future.

A future they both feared, a future they were both desperate to prevent.

For the slightest moment Grim considered that she could stop Anakin's turn to Vader right here and now.

She could shove him off this roof and he would fall to the ground dead.

Though she knew it would do no good. Even without Vader, Sidious would still claim victory tomorrow - and besides even now, knowing what he would do once the sun set for the final time on the home of compassion and light tomorrow-

She saw him as her brother.

How could Grim kill her own brother?

Though she knew tomorrow she and Obi-Wan would still be faced with that question, now only delayed the ending. If she was alive to face it.

The silence became unbearable as Grim sunk further into thoughts of what the next day would bring. She had to say something to announce her presence to the brother she already lost.

"The stars are very beautiful tonight," she said.

Anakin turned his head and saw her. "Yes," he agreed. "I'm sorry I didn't notice you."

"It's fine," she replied. "I could tell you were lost in your thoughts."

"And you have been as well, what's wrong Grim?" he asked, nodding to her tear stained face.

The lights of the city world and stars above did nothing to hide the tears, in fact they helped to bring them out - as if her tears had been stars themselves.

"I'm afraid," she admitted. "Of the future, what it may bring."

"I understand that feeling," Anakin replied.

"That's why you came up here isn't it?" Grim asked him.

"Yes," he admitted. "I have been having visions..."

"Of death, and you want to prevent that death from occurring," she finished.

"Yes," he said. "Is that why you came up here as well?"

"Mostly," she replied. "Not through visions but I can tell that tomorrow brings tragedy and death, and I am afraid of what that may mean. I wish to prevent it but..."

"You're afraid it may be out of reach," he finished.

"Yes, and that I have already failed."

"The future can be changed. Nothing is set."

"Isn't it? Have any one of your visions that you wished to prevent, been prevented? Or did they happen as you saw?"

Anakin fell silent, because he had never changed the ending of the future. They always played the same.

Grim knew that he understood what she had meant.

"Have yours?" he asked her.

"Hm?"

"Your visions - have you ever changed them?"

"Rarely," she admitted. "I've saved a life once or twice, but every time I paid a price. It has been a long time since I have changed something I wished to change."

"Then is tragedy destined for us?" Anakin asked her.

"I do not believe in destiny, and I doubt you do as well, for destiny means life is written in stone. If we believe this, then why do we strive to save those we love from a terrible fate?"

Anakin lowered his head, he knew exactly what she meant. "Then it can be changed," he said.

Grim shook her head, "it is already too late."

In that one moment the two Jedi understood each other.

Outside they were brave, strong, and determined.

Inside they were both Padawans who feared for the future - one they worked to prevent but could not.

The lights of the stars illuminated the Jedi - both Padawans of Obi-Wan Kenobi, although one bore the title of Knight, and soon the title of Sith.

They were afraid and could not let go, they sat in silence, and in understanding as the ending showed upon them.

Tomorrow they would be enemies as their lives burned around them, but in this moment they were shattered remains of the Jedi they once were, as fear tugged at their hearts.

Inviting both to the dark.